Martin Lewis finally settles debate on if it's better to leave heating on all day

It is time to turn the heating on which means the return of the age-old question of whether to leave your heating on throughout the day or not.

The argument is that the "low and slow" method of leaving your radiators on a low heat, constantly, means you will heat your house more efficiently. Others disagree.

Now, Martin Lewis' Money Saving Expert has revealed the best plan of action. Pulling from specialists at the Energy Saving Trust, British Gas and an independent plumber and MoneySavers social media - this is the most researched answer you will get.

The conclusion seems to be that "leaving the heating on all day leads to greater heat loss and means higher cost", according toMSE.

However the truth is both arguments for and against leaving the heating on stand - but there is some leeway in what is best for your exact situation.

The Energy Saving Trust states leaving the heating on all day is less efficient. It said the best method is to simply pump heat into your home as and when you need it - meaning you're only paying when you need to. Using a timed thermostat is best for keeping your home at the temperature you want when you want.

However, if you have a modern boiler or heat pump, are at home all day, or spend most of your evenings and weekends at home, the low and slow method wins, argues Heat Geek. Heat pumps are a low-carbon form of electric heating which capture heat from outside the home. A modern condensing boiler recovers some waste heat before its lost - these boilers were installed after 2005. In these cases, it could be more efficient to keep your house at a constant 18 or 19°C. Low temperatures and slow heating responsiveness, meaning you don't shoot your heating up when you're cold- means the boiler can recover more waste heat.

However, this will not be the best method for you if you are often out of the house or if you have plasterboard walls (which heat up faster). But if you have cavity wall and loft insulation or underfloor heating - low and slow is best.

Others think the argument for low and slow is that it will prevent condensation collecting within the walls each time the heating is turned off- which can conduct heat outside your home. This can also encourage damp and mould.

As there is no firm answer, MSE recommends trial and error - comparing the energy usage with each method.

Take your meter readings at the start and end of each experiment and compare them - but try and match the temperatures of the weeks you are testing in.